QUESTIONS over the future of a section of homeless accommodation for military veterans In County Durham has been raised after a takeover deal to save the centre only included part of the sheltered housing – leaving 16 bedrooms still unaccounted for.
St Peter’s Court and Hollyacre Centre on Front Street, Sacriston, were both placed into administration after owners Single Homeless: Action Initiative in Durham (SHAID) hit financial difficulties in February 2022.
Hollyacre House comprises 13 self-contained one-bedroom flats and one flat for five people – which can support veterans for up to two years at a time, while St Peter’s Court has 16-self contained flat areas.
Read more: Sheltered housing in County Durham to close - leaving dozens of veterans homeless
Despite national veterans’ charity Launchpad announcing yesterday (May 16) that it had acquired Hollyacre House - rescuing the future of eight veterans and four staff members – what becomes of St Peter’s Court has been brought into question.
Speaking about the acquisition of Hollyacre House, David Shaw, CEO and founder of Launchpad, said: “We are delighted to take over the operations by opening Hollyacre House and continuing to deliver vital accommodation and support to our veterans.
“When the building was closed, eight resident veterans living at the scheme were left wondering where their future lay, but we will continue to support those residents and provide the support they need to help them to successfully move on with their lives.”
However, when drawn on the future of St Peter’s Court, which opened in 2011, a spokesperson for Launchpad commented: “Launchpad does not intend to take on St. Peter’s. I believe the building has been handed back to the family and all residents that lived there have now moved on.”
At the time of administrators Iain Nairn and Mike Dillon, of Leonard Curtis Business Solutions Group, being appointed, Lee Alexander, Durham County Council’s head of adult care, said: “We are aware of the difficult decision that has been made to close services in County Durham. We are liaising with SHAID to identify alternative accommodation and support those affected.”
Now that the takeover has been announced, Hollyacre will run in line with other Launchpad sheltered accommodation in Newcastle and Liverpool, while St Peter’s Court remains closed.
Durham County Council has been contacted by The Northern Echo in regard to what happened to the military veterans that were living at St Peter’s Court in February 2022.
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